Blistering start secures first win of 2023

Barnsley ended their wait for their first goals and points of 2023 with an emphatic 3-1 home win over Accrington Stanley.

The hosts raced into a 2-0 lead after eight minutes through strikers James Norwood and Jack Aitchison, then Jordan Williams made it three before the midway point in the first half.

The impressive Reds ran riot against their lowly hosts early on then controlled the remainder of the game, missing some more chances, before Accrington netted an injury-time penalty.

Barnsley remain sixth in League One, five points clear in the play-offs.

Michael Duff had made two changes from the defeat to Charlton Athletic a week earlier. Debutant Bobby Thomas replaced the injured Josh Benson while Norwood came in for the benched Devante Cole. Williams moved to right wing-back with Thomas on the right of the back three.

The Reds totally dominated the first half, barely troubled at the back, much stronger in midfield than their disappointing visitors and clinical up front.

Norwood opened the scoring in the fifth minute, brilliantly overhead kicking into the net on the left of the six-yard box after an Adam Phillips cross from the right was headed into the air by Thomas. It was his sixth goal of the season.

It was 2-0 three minutes later when Luca Connell’s cross from the left was spilled by the goalkeeper, under pressure from Norwood, and Aitchison fired into the nearly empty net. It was the Scot’s first goal at Oakwell.

The third goal arrived in the 19th minute when Connell’s fantastic pass set Phillips free on the right and he cleverly passed inside to the onrushing Williams who beat the goalkeeper one-on-one.

Norwood almost got another but his powerful shot from the right of the box was tipped over by the goalkeeper. Phillips had brilliantly won the ball, charged forward and played Norwood in.

Herbie Kane came close early in the second half when he was put clean through by an excellent Williams pass but shot wide of the bottom right corner from the left of the box. Kane then fired over inside the box a few minutes later when sliding in to meet a Williams cross.

Brad Collins made his first save in the 74th minute, easily catching Josh Woods’ volley from the left of the box.

Mads Andersen headed well off-target unmarked from a left-wing Connell corner.

Substitute Ziyad Larkeche conceded a penalty deep in injury-time after dwelling on the ball then tripping an attacker. Tommy Leigh’s spot-kick was almost saved by Collins but went in off the bar.

Barnsley (3-5-2): Collins; Thomas, Andersen, Kitching; Williams, Kane (Wolfe 82mins), Connell, Phillips, Cadden (Larkeche 82); Norwood (Cole 77), Aitchison (Watters 65).

Unused: Searle, Martin, Oduor.

Yellow cards: Thomas.

Goals: Norwood 5, Aitchison 8, Williams 19.

Accrington: Savin; Rodgers, Tharme, Astley; Quirk, Coyle, McConville (Adekoya 70), Martin, Hamilton (Longelo 60mins); Leigh, Whalley (Woods 60) .

Unused: Jensen, Nottingham, Perritt, Fernandes.

Yellow cards: Hamilton, Coyle.

Goals: Leigh (pen) 90+3.